Phonon-mediated thermal transport at cryogenic temperatures: physical insights and device applications
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Phonon-mediated thermal transport at cryogenic temperatures: physical insights and device applications

Xinyu Zhang
1
,
Cheng Shao
2,*
,
Hua Bao
1,*,†
*Correspondence to: Cheng Shao, Thermal Science Research Center, Shandong Institute of Advanced Technology, Jinan 250103, Shandong, China. E-mail: cheng.shao@iat.cn
Hua Bao, Global Institute of Future Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. E-mail: hua.bao@sjtu.edu.cn
Thermo-X. 2026;2:202617. 10.70401/tx.2026.0035
Received: April 30, 2026Accepted: September 16, 2026Published: September 17, 2026
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This manuscript is made available in its unedited form to allow early access to the reported findings. Further editing will be completed before final publication. As such, the content may include errors, and standard legal disclaimers are applicable.

Abstract

At cryogenic temperatures, thermal transport is predominantly governed by long-wavelength acoustic phonons with exceptionally long intrinsic mean free paths, leading to significant departures from the diffusive transport behavior characteristic of room temperature. Understanding these transport mechanisms is essential for emerging technologies, including quantum computing, cryogenic electronics, and aerospace systems. This review summarizes the fundamental physics governing phonon-mediated thermal transport in the cryogenic regime. We first introduce the classical Casimir-Knudsen framework for geometry-limited transport and then discuss how this picture is modified by reduced dimensionality, competing scattering mechanisms, collective phonon transport, and wave effects. Particular emphasis is placed on the physical origins of thermal-conductivity behaviors that deviate from the conventional T3 scaling. We further examine the implications of cryogenic phonon transport for self-heating and thermal management in electronic and quantum devices. Finally, we identify key unresolved questions, particularly regarding predictive modeling and thermal management in cryogenic quantum devices. By providing a unified overview of recent advances, this review aims to stimulate further progress in the fundamental understanding and engineering of thermal transport at cryogenic temperatures.

Keywords

Cryogenic temperature, thermal transport, phonon transport properties

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Zhang X, Shao C, Bao H. Phonon-mediated thermal transport at cryogenic temperatures: physical insights and device applications. Thermo-X. 2026;2:202617. https://doi.org/10.70401/tx.2026.0035

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